The lowdown on what’s up with neighborhood businesses
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Katy Trail Ice House, 1 – neighbors, 0
Mid-March the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission rejected Park Towers homeowners association’s request for a hearing to discuss a noise abatement agreement with Katy Trail Ice House. The neighbors have complained about the noise the bar emits since it first opened, and have had enough. Unfortunately the TABC doesn’t seem to find the ice house in the wrong, citing they only had three police calls in the past two years, which is not hearing worthy according to the TABC.
Katy Trail Ice House, 3127 Routh, 214.468.0600, katyicehouse.com
Go gaga over YaYa
YaYa Foot Spa, a traditional Chinese reflexology shop, expanded to open its third location at Lovers Lane recently. Started by Dallas resident Nicole Isenberg, who moved to Dallas from Mainland China, Isenberg hired people who hail from the same place to perform these old rituals. Procedures involve soaking feet in an herbal tea, followed by pressure point treatment and energy restoration to make the nerve endings feel good. “All points of the body are connected to the feet as well as the brain. It’s a very relaxing treatment,” says husband Ralph Isenberg. The new reflexology shop has seven seats, and a private area for three and four chairs up front where you are given hot chrysanthemum tea upon arrival.
YaYa Foot Spa, 5555 Lovers Lane, 214.612.8046, yayafootspa.com
Sub-Zero and Wolf to open 20,000-square-foot showroom
Sub-Zero and Wolf, a kitchen design resource center, will open in the Design District early April. You can take cooking classes by Chef Garth Blackburn, receive one-on-one product consultations, cooking demonstrations and more. Sub-Zero, Inc., is one of the leading manufactures of American-made refrigeration, freezers and wine storage products.
Sub-Zero and Wolf, 3707 Lemmon Ave., 972.699.5202, subzero-wolf.com
A 42-year-long celebration
Celebration Restaurant made the 42-year mark last month, all thanks to its great food and service, says chief operating officer Ed Lowe. Lowe opened the restaurant in 1971 with the financial backing of his parents, and as it became more successful, they expanded to include a market and catering business. Now Lowe, Mr. old hippie, is “constantly aggressively looking for ways to improve,” though they seem to be doing pretty well as is. “We have a lot of wonderful people, we call them ‘partners’ not ‘employees,’” says Lowe. With more than 100 partners, he’s proud to say 50 percent of them have been there more than five years. It’s important for Lowe to have loyal employees because that’s what makes his business successful, he says. He even goes so far as to say that employees come first and then the customers, which isn’t an odd business model when you think about it. Keep the employees happy and they’ll want to keep everyone else happy in return, he says. “Our philosophy has always been when you come in you’ll get the same or better quality than you got before. If you [a business] are trying to stay the same you’re probably going to get worse,” he says.
Celebration Restaurant, 4503 W. Lovers Lane, 214.351.5681, celebrationrestaurant.com
New tenants open at The Plaza at Preston Center
The Plaza at Preston Center’s construction is moving along as owners leased a spot to women’s clothing store Aftershock London, and development is nearly done. Aftershock’s London’s store will open its first location in the United States at the center sometime mid-April. The store will feature 1,300 square feet for shopping. New stores are signing leases while some are going to relocate in the next few months, says Caroline Terry with Elle Public Relations. Calypso St. Barth and Calypso Home are currently separate, but they’ll move and combine to one larger space next door to Lucky Dog Barkery. True Food Kitchen is tentatively going to open summer 2013, and Lu Blue and Matthew Trent are expected to open sometime this month in the same building as the new University Park Library. Good thing the parking deck with more than 400 spots is already complete.
The Plaza at Preston Center, 8311 Preston Center Plaza Drive, theplazaatprestoncenter.com
| More business bits |
Snuffer’s, a 32-year-old chain, which started on Greenville Avenue and now has seven locations, including Northwest Highway and Preston, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday. The good news is that Snuffer’s will stay in business while it restructures its debt.
Snuffer’s, 8411 Preston, Suite 112, 214.265.9911, snuffers.com
